Effect of plant growth promoters on flowering and fruiting attributes of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

A field experiment was carried out during rainy season of 2015 to study the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on flowering and fruiting of okra. The experiment was planned using randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications comprising three levels of both GA3 (50, 100 and 200 ppm) and NAA (50, 100 and 200 ppm) with two combination doses of NAA and GA3 (50+50 ppm and 100+100 ppm). All variables regarding flowering and fruiting were significantly influenced by different concentrations of the growth regulators. Plant growth regulators (PGR) were less effective when applied individually as compared to their combined use; however, performance of plants treated with individual PGR was better than the untreated plants. Among all the combinations of NAA and GA3 (50 ppm each) resulted in maximum internodal length (7.53 cm), number of nodes/plant (25.67), number of flowers/plant (25.33), fruit length (12.37 cm), fruit girth (1.91 cm) and number of fruits/plant (22.67), while took minimum days to flowering (35.67) and fruiting (38.33).